Gyeongbokgung Palace

Main Royal Palace Of The Joseon Dynasty; Historic Site · Seoul, Seoul

The first and largest of Seoul's five royal palaces, built in 1395, three years after the founding of the Joseon dynasty, as the seat of its kings. Its name means palace greatly blessed by heaven, and it sits on the classic geomantic site of the old capital, with Bugaksan mountain behind it and the great avenue of Sejong-daero running south from its main gate, Gwanghwamun. The palace burned in 1592 during the Japanese invasions and lay in ruins for about 270 years until it was rebuilt in the 1860s under the regent Heungseon Daewongun. Under Japanese colonial rule most of its buildings were pulled down, and a colonial government building stood in front of the throne hall until it was demolished in 1995-96. Restoration has continued since. Visitors walk through a sequence of gates and courtyards to the Geunjeongjeon throne hall, the Gyeonghoeru banquet pavilion on its pond and the small Hyangwonjeong pavilion on its island, watch the royal guard change at the gate, and visit the National Palace Museum and National Folk Museum in the grounds. Visitors in hanbok enter free.

161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Seoul, 03045, South Korea

NO OPENING TIME HERE WAS CHECKED. The typical pattern: open about 9 am to 5 pm in winter, 6 pm in spring and autumn and 6:30 pm in summer, with last entry about an hour before closing, and closed every Tuesday. The guard ceremony usually runs at about 10 am and 2 pm except on the closing day. The museums inside have their own hours. Night openings run on set dates. Traps: arriving on a Tuesday; missing last entry; the guard ceremony cancelled in bad weather; booking a night opening too late; confusing Gyeongbokgung's closing day with the Monday closing of the other palaces.

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